The days are getting shorter and the weather is getting colder, but it's warm and bright at the Berkeley Public Library.
We invite you, your family and friends to drop by and pick up a book, or DVD, or to attend a free concert or class.
Borrow some tools to weatherproof your home. Watch a movie or make some holiday gifts. It's all here at the Library. Happy Holidays!
New Interim Library Director
The Berkeley Public Library is excited to introduce Beth Pollard, recently appointed interim Director of Library Services by the Berkeley Board of Library Trustees (BOLT)
Pollard, the former City Manager of Albany, served this past year as Interim Deputy City Manager for the City of Berkeley during the recruitment process for the Deputy City Manager position.
"Beth has just the right combination of strong management skills, leadership ability, and familiarity with Berkeley to help guide us during this transition," said Abigail Franklin, Board Chair. Read more.
Lots to Do in December @the Library
Maker Time @Claremont Saturday, December 5 10:00-2:00pm We'll be making paper snowflakes with old magazines for this wintery month! Our monthly Makerspace event is free. For all ages.
The Knitting Hour & Finger Knitting @Central Saturday, December 5 3:15-4:45pm 4th floor Story Room Learn to knit with others and get inspired. All skill levels welcome. Prepare to Yarn bomb! Some supplies available. Ages 8 and up.
Holiday Gifts: Recycled Stationery @Central Sunday, December 6 2:30-4:00pm Make a set of 10 notecards with envelopes to give as gifts or keep for yourself. Only room for 20. Register @ 510-981-6236. Ages 6+.4th floor Story Room
Handmade Cards & Letters @South Wednesday, December 9 5:30-7:00pm Bring your family & join your neighbors to practice the old-fashioned arts of letter writing & card making. All supplies provided. Take home good ideas and unique one-of-a-kind creations. All ages are welcome!
Who says that storytime is just for kids? Join us for a dramatic reading of holiday stories. For older teens and adults.
Underwater sculpture reef - Angel Azul Trailer
Angel Azul screening@West December 15 6:30pm-8:00pm Free screening of award winning documentarywith Q&A to follow.
The Knitting Hour & Finger Knitting @Central Saturday, December 5 3:15-4:45pm 4th floor Story Room Learn to knit with others and get inspired. All skill levels welcome. Prepare to Yarn bomb! Some supplies available. Ages 8 and up.
Warm up with a high energy jazz concert. Pianist & composer Erika Oba with bassist Chris Bastian. All ages.
*Needs Some Assembly
You just bought a dining room table and it came in a box. Maybe you just got a new bike and it needs some assembly? Or you need to get those new gutters up but you don't have a ladder. Never fear -- the Tool Lending Library is here to help you! Check us out! Read more.
December 4 Sweet and Lowdown (1999 / 95 min. PG-13) It's the 1930s in America. A talented but unhinged jazz guitarist, Emmet Ray (Sean Penn), falls for a mute laundress (Samantha Morton). As usual, director Woody Allen serves up a tantalizing mix of period music along with his engaging script. Both Penn and Morton were nominated for Academy Awards.
December 11 Good Bye, Lenin! (2003 / 121 min. / R) In the late 1980s a devout East German Communist sees her son, Alex, being arrested in an anti-government demonstration, has a heart attack and falls into a coma. When she wakes a year later, her doctor warns that sudden shocks could kill her, leading Alex to go to extreme lengths to hide from her that the Berlin Wall has fallen and East Germany is kaput.
December 18 The History Boys (2006 / 109 min. / R) Adapted by Alan Bennett from his own award-winning play of the same name, it is set in an English boys' high school in 1983. A few charming boys are studying like crazy for Oxford and Cambridge, but especially relish the teaching methods of their literature instructor, Hector, for whom they act out what they're reading. Witty dialogue and fine performances make this a pure joy.
December 25 No Screening Happy Christmas!
South Renamed
On November 18, 2015 the Board of Library Trustees approved the naming subcommittee's recommendation to rename South Branch the Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch. The subcommittee will continue having open monthly meetings to plan next steps; including signage and a plaque or other piece inside the library recounting Ms. Pittman's significance to the community.
We are making plans to celebrate the renaming of the Branch with a series of programs celebrating and collecting the neighborhood's history.
Most free events at Central Library, Claremont, Tarea Hall Pittman South and West Branch Libraries are sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library.
Events at North Branch Library are made possible by a generous gift from the Pace Trust, in support of the North Branch of the Berkeley Public Library.
The Berkeley Public Library is excited to introduce Beth Pollard, recently appointed interim Director of Library Services by the Berkeley Board of Library Trustees (BOLT)
